The choctaw nation of oklahoma (CNO) is a federally recognized indian tribe located in southeastern oklahoma

The Office on Violence Against Women awarded the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma $1.5 million on October 1, 2025, through the Tribal Special Assistant United States Attorneys program (CFDA 16.055) to support the cross-designation of a tribal prosecutor as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney focusing on violent crime prosecution in Indian country.

The Choctaw Nation is partnering with the United States Attorneys Office for the District of Oklahoma, Eastern to fill jurisdictional gaps, increase coordination among tribal, federal, and state law enforcement agencies, and improve the quality of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, sex trafficking, and stalking cases through training and best practices. The partnership will enter into a formal memorandum of understanding, mutually select or retain an agreed-upon attorney to be cross-designated as both a SAUSA and a tribal prosecutor who will maintain an active tribal and federal caseload, and participate in required training and technical assistance. Award funding supports salary and fringe benefits for the SAUSA position, training, travel, and other resources needed to support the cross-designated prosecutor's work. The award period runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2030, with place of performance in Durant, Oklahoma.

For this project, the CNO is partnering with the united states attorneys office for the district of oklahoma, eastern (usao). The tribe and the usao have demonstrated a strong mutual interest in filling gaps in jurisdictional coverage; increasing communication and coordination among the tribal, federal, and state law enforcement agencies; establishing consistent relationships between federal prosecutors and the tribal community; and improving the quality of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, SEX trafficking, and stalking cases through training and best practices. Through this project, the partners will: 1. Enter into a formal memorandum of understanding detailing the terms of their partnership; 2. Mutually select or retain an agreed upon attorney to be cross designated as both a sausa and a tribal prosecutor who will maintain an active tribal and federal caseload; and 3. Participate in required training and technical assistance. Funds through this award will support salary and fringe benefits for the sausa position, training, travel, and other resources needed to support the work of the sausa.